The family of a missing British sailor are to travel to the UAE next week to question detectives investigating his disappearance.

Timothy MacColl, who was serving on HMS Westminster, disappeared during a visit to the UAE.

MacColl was last seen leaving the Rock Bottom Cafe in Bur Dubai in the early hours of May 27.

British authorities have said they are treating it as a missing person’s case and are working closely with local authorities.

Wife Rachael and her grandfather Jim Cunningham will travel to Dubai next week in hope of finding fresh leads, according to the BBC.

Jim Cunningham was quoted as saying the family continued to be frustrated by an apparent lack of progress in the investigation being led by police in Dubai.

He told the BBC: "I don't think we're much further forward than we were in the first month. We don't know where Timmy is, we don't know what happened to him and it's purely conjecture.

"There's been no positive feedback and month eight really is the same as month one. We want to know what avenues have been explored, what the results were and what any future inquiries will be."

In October, MacColl's wife made an emotional plea for information about her husband, saying: "My husband is not just a sailor; he's an adoring father, son and uncle. He is my soul mate, my first love and best friend

She added: "For the last five months I have sat at home unable to give up hope, unable to move forward, unable to grieve and constantly dreading the fact that the knock on the door might or might not ever come again."